(Special Correspondent)
Amaravati: The YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday has issued prohibitory orders in holding rallies and public meetings on roads in the wake of two major stampedes at the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu, in which as many as 11 persons lost their lives. Principal Secretary (Home) Harish Kumar Gupta issued a government order prohibiting rallies and public meetings on roads under the provisions of the Police Act, 1861.
Ads by The government cited the Kandukur incident that took place on December 28, 2022, in which eight persons died in a stampede, in an official statement, “Processions which pass through the public streets and public roads, as well as assemblies, are regulated under the Act on the touchstone of ensuring access to the general public to such roads and streets, public safety and public peace,” the statement read.
The Opposition parties, however, opposed the issuance of govt order prohibiting election rallies and public meetings as undemocratic and against the fundamental right of peaceful assembly.
The stampedes at Kandukur in Nellore and Guntur city took place during the meetings attended by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and both tragedies took place in a span of less than a week.
